Manga-ka: Momoko Tenzen
Publisher: June
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “Soon after taking a part-time job as a cram-school lecturer, Yoh meets Yuta, a boy of peerless beauty. While Yoh thinks it’s cute how Yuta pines for him, why is it that when Yuta acts so manly from time to time it makes Yoh’s heart beat faster…? Another airy love story from Momoko Tenzen.”

Ciao Ciao Bambino’s cover jumps right at you screaming “cute!” – not only are there two pretty boys, but flowers and stars fall around them as they embrace. Since cuteness is my kryptonite, I had to read this. You shouldn’t judge a book by a cover, but in the end that’s part of the reason covers are there.

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Manga-ka: Sakurako Hanafubuki
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “After a bittersweet separation from the showbiz industry and experiencing an accident, Ayukawa has lost his memory of the two years he spent working as a pop idol. The only clue he has is a feeling that he must meet the most popular actor in Japan—Koji Mizuhara—no matter what! But, a crazy fate seems to be haunting Ayukawa. A videotape is circulating throughout the showbiz industry. It’s entitled “Crazy Star” and stars Ayukawa himself—being forced upon. The people who care about Ayukawa are trying desperately to round up all the tapes. But just who is hiding the final copy? And what does the video have to do with Ayukawa’s accident?”

Crazy Star is the third volume in Sakurako Hanafubuki’s series following actors Kyo Ayukawa and Koji Mizuhara, but like the volumes before it can be read as a stand-alone. This is both the series’ greatest strength and weakness. While it does mean you can pick up any book and read it, it also means there’s not a lot of momentum book to book. Because each volume tries to be new-reader friendly, the story and characters don’t really get a chance to grow or become any more complex.

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Manga-ka: Nabako Kamo
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “Kaioh, the amphibious, bad-boy “mermaid” has taken to submissive Kanan like a fish to water. But when Kaioh’s feud with his childhood rival, Haru, threatens to complicate things, Kanan might just get to see Mr. Mermaid’s ugly side. All this conflict attracts the unwanted attention of Lord Amur, a self-centered monarch to whom the beautiful denizens of the deep are mere playthings. Clearly, this arrogant trickster knows that real sunken treasure does not come in the form of aquamarines or pearls, but in the form of flesh. Can Kaioh and Kanan overcome Amur’s meddling to make it back to shore together? And just what part does that giant clam play in all this, anyway?!”

Was I a writer of ‘worst-of’ lists, the first volume of Selfish Mr. Mermaid would’ve made the list and battled for the top position. With two extremely unlikable characters and a mythology so far off base it was pointless, there was little to enjoy about the mish-mash of abusive relationships and awkward art. But what then could there be left to say for volume two? To my surprise, more than I’d thought posssible as volume two makes a tremendous leap forward and proved an actual treat to read. Lesson learned – never trust a book by its predecessor, or at least don’t underestimate one man’s love for a giant clam.

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